Ranil Wickremesinghe trip probe deepens as AG advises CID to formally seek Wolverhampton University details under mutual assistance law.
The Ranil Wickremesinghe trip investigation has taken a new turn, with the CID deciding to formally obtain information from the University of Wolverhampton.
The information relates to the alleged invitation received by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe from the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom. The Criminal Investigation Department has decided to make the request under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, following advice from the Attorney General’s Department.
A letter signed by government attorney Sajith Bandara and sent to the CID stated that a formal application should be submitted to secure the relevant information under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, No. 25 of 2002.
When the matter was taken up before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court this week, the CID informed court that it would study the advice letter received from the Attorney General’s Department and then report further steps to court.
The CID also clarified to court that the information now being formally requested under the relevant act had previously been sent by the university through postal mail. According to the CID, that material is already in the possession of the department.
However, questions remain over why the same information is now being pursued through a formal mutual assistance process if it has already been received.
The CID further presented details to court regarding the statement obtained from former First Lady Maithree Wickremesinghe in connection with the British tour currently under investigation.
What happens next could be critical, as the formal request to Wolverhampton University may determine how the investigation proceeds before court.
